Chapter 212 So Close, Yet So Far
“How much damage did we get to that fender?” Case asked as the race went green and he did his best to get around the car in front of him.
“Some, but it’s not too bad,” Brad told him. “The aerodynamics will be a little off from before.”
Case could already feel that as he hit the accelerator. The car didn’t do what he expected it to do, but he could handle it. He just needed to pass one car and get back into the top then, and the championship was his.
The laps were counting down quickly now. He had five laps to go. The caution flag had gotten everyone all bunched up again, and it was hard to pass these cars. They were the best of the field. None of the cars in the top ten had any damage, and his flat tire had given him a lot on the side where the tire started coming apart and thunking against the fender.
“Come on,” Case muttered to himself, starting to see things open up in front of him. If he could go around the car in front of him on the high side and then shoot back to the bottom, he might be able to get that spot and keep it.
“Four to go. Four to go,” Truitt said in his ear.
Case said nothing; he was well aware.
Four laps to get around a car for the championship.
He thought back to where he’d been a year ago, when he’d been so close to winning the championship on this very race track. He’d been racing against the same man, Stewart Antony, who’d beaten him out and won. Case had been so upset after he’d lost that race, he’d gone to a local club. The decisions he’d made that night could’ve ruined his life forever. He’d met Sarah, hooked up with her, and she’d sunk her hooks into him, even faking a pregnancy—and then another—to try and keep him.
If it hadn’t been for meeting Andrea at the airport after he’d broken free of Sarah, none of the victories he’d had this year would’ve mattered. His loss of last year was devastating, but he’d found a way to turn it into something he wouldn’t trade for anything. Andrea was really all he ever needed, even if he never raced again.
But he wanted to win so bad, to have that championship, to show everyone that he was worthy of all of their accolades.
The opening was there. He could see it. “Three to go. Three to go,” Truitt chimed. Case steered his car up the racetrack, cutting close to another car but not making contact as he threaded his way around the car in tenth position.
“P-ten,” Brad said.
“All clear,” Truitt assured him.
Case shot back down to the bottom of the racetrack. As long as he kept this position, he’d have the championship, even if Stewart Antony won the race.
Stewart was two cars ahead of him. He had to know that Case had the points on him now to win the championship if everything stayed as it was.
“Two to go. Two more laps,” Truitt reminded him.
The car in ninth place was just ahead of him, but Case didn’t think he’d have a chance to go around it without jeopardizing a pass from the car he’d just gone around, so he held off, content to finish ten and leave it at that.
The white flag came out, which signaled there was one lap left, and Truitt reminded him as well.
Four more corners, and he’d be the NASCAR champion. Just one more lap around….
They entered turn one. The car in ninth was slowing down as if he had a problem. Case knew he’d have to be careful. He took the high side and went around the other driver, making sure there was plenty of space.
“He’s out of gas,” Truitt said.
It happened—not often, but it did happen. They wouldn’t throw a caution flag for that. Case had to keep going.
He entered turn two. Stewart Antony was a good twenty feet in front of him. Case backed off the gas slightly. No need to get too close to him.
He hit the gas in the straightaway, as did Antony, but as they went into turn three, Stewart laid off the pedal. Case did, too, wanting to maintain the distance.
Turn four, with just this and the last straightaway, Case could see the checkered flag waving ahead. He didn’t even know who was in first place, who would win the race.
Coming out of turn four, Stewart slowed way down, as if he wanted Cast to go around him. It didn’t make any sense. What was he doing?
Realizing this had to be a trick of some sort, Case swung high up the racetrack, giving Stewart the bottom. The other driver slowed way down.
Case punched the gas pedal to head down the straightaway to the finish lane. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Stewart coming at him. “Hold on!” Truitt warned, but it was too late. Stewart was hoping to spin Case out so that he would win the championship!
With the checkered flag still flying right in front of him, Case felt the car go sideways. He was starting to spin! He just needed to hang on long enough to slide across the finish line in tenth place or better. Holding onto the wheel tightly, Case let his instincts take over, praying they’d be enough to lead him home.
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